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(No Model.) Y 0. A. COTTERILL 86 L. A. UONNER, J1.

LEAD PBNUIL. No. 340,423. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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UNITED STATES ATENT CHARLES A. CO'ITERILL AND LENDELL A. OONNER, Jit, OF \JASHING'ION,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LEAD-PENCIL.

SPfiCIFI'CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,423, dated April 20, 188 6.

' Application filed March 16, ISPG. Serial No. 195,460. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, CHARLES A.COTTERILL and LENDELL A. CONNER, J r., both of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead-Pencils; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the pencil. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the end piece of the pencil detached from the case; Fig. 4 is l 5 a view of the lead-holder. Fig. 5is a view of the slotted sleeve. Fig. 6 is aview of the slotted sleeve, presenting a plan view of the conmeeting-bridges. case, showing the feather.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Our invention relates to an improvement in lead-pencils, and it is especially adapted to the use of stenographers and for other purposes 2 5 where rapid writing is required; and it con sists in an arrangement of devices whereby the lead may be advanced or retracted by the fingcrs of the hand holding the pencil without materially changing the position of the same.

We will now describe our invention, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may manufacture and use the same.

In the drawings, a represents the cylindrical body or case of the pencil, which may be formed of wood, hard rubber, metal, or other suitable material. Within this case is a cylindrical bore, b, havingalongitudinal feather, I), (see Fig. 7 adapted to engage with a spline, 0, extending horizontally in the surface of the lead-holderd. Thislcad-holderiscylindrical, and may be of brass or other suitable material, of such form and shape as to fit in the bore b, the spline engaging with the feather, so as to be capable of receiving a longitudinal motion in the bore, and on its outer surface it is provided with screw-threads 6. One end of this lead-holder is slotted, forming jaws d. It is also tapered to receive and retain a securing-collar, f, which, when the lead 25 is inserted between the slots, binds on the arms or leaves thereby formed, and clamps the head Fig. 7 is an end view of the securely to the holder. The-end piece, 9, of the penci1-caseis fixed in one end of the sleeve h, which sleeve may be formed of thin brass or other suitable material, and at its other end is slotted longitudinally, as at i i, and transversely, as at It k, the purpose of the longitudinal slots being to allow of the sleeve being sprung open sufficiently to insert the propelling-nut m, which fits in the slots 70, the conmeeting portions of the sleeve being formed into outwardly-curving bridges 00. Opening from the slots 1' z are bayonet-slots p p, which engage with pins q g on the case b, so as to retain the sleeve h, which is further secured to 6 the case b by the sleeve or collar 1', which, be ing of slightly larger diameter than the case b, may be pushed over the sleeve h, so as to bind the same securely on the end of the case. The propelling-nut m is provided on its inner 7o circumference with screw-threads 8, adapted to engage with the threads 0 on the lead-hold In placing these parts together, the end piece, 9, being fixed in the sleeve h, the pro pelling-nutmis sprung into placein the sleeve. The lead being secured to the lead-holder d. the holder is then inserted in the sleeve and end piece so that the thread 6 shall engage with the thread 8. The other end of the holder dis then inserted in the, case b, so that the feather b shall. engage with the spline c, and the end of the sleeve h isbroug'ht on the end of the case b. The pins q q,fittingin the slots 2' z, are brought into the bayonet-slots p p by a turn ofthe sleeve. I The collar 1' is then brought over the end of the sleeve, so as to bind or secure the sleeve to the case. It will be noticed that the outer circumference of thepropellingnut m extends through the slots k kslightly go beyond the circumference of the sleeve h, and that this outer circumference is milled, so as to present a roughened surface to the finger.

The operation is as follows: By turning the nut m the screw-threads e and s propel the lead-holder longitudinally, it being prevented from turning on its axis by the feather and spline. Owing to the position of this nut, it may be readily turned in either direction by the thumb or fingers of the hand in which the loo pencil is held, so that the same length of the lead may be preserved at all times in writing without removing the pencil from the paper. It is therefore specially adapted for stenographic purposes.

Although we have described a feather and spline and clamping and other devices, we do not desire to limit ourselves to the same as other of the known equivalents may be employed therefor.

Having thus described our invention, what wet claim, and desire to secure by Letters Paten lS- 1. The combination of a lead-holder fitting in a hollow case and a rotatory threaded propelling-nut engaging with the lead-holder, so as to propel the same when the nut is rotated, and situate and arranged at or near the point of the pencil-case, so as to be operated by the finger of the dexter hand, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a propelling lead-pencil. the combination, with the case or body of a pencil, of an externally-threaded lead-holder adapted to grip the lead, a threaded nut of slightly larger diameter than the body of the pencil, and a feather and spline, said devices being arranged so as to impart a non-rotary longitudinal movement to theleadfrom the rotation of the nut, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the body of the pencil, the end piece, the externally-threaded lead-holder having jaws for holding the lead, the propelling-nut screwing on the threaded lead-holder, and a sleeve attached to the end piece, 9, slotted circumferentially, so as to permit of the projection of the circumference of the nut beyond the surface of the sleeve, and having a slot at the end, so as to permit of the introduction of the nut into the sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 16th day of March, A. D. 1886.

CHARLES A. COTTERI-LL. LENDELL A. CONNER, JR.

Witnesses:

ROBERT E. Monms, BENJAMIN B. WELLS. 

